# NTSB WPR13CA120: Bell 206B, N802KA, Shandon, CA, February 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 10, 2013, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Shandon, CA - Coordinates: 35.939445, -120.212219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9394&lon=-120.2122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86176 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86176/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86176 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA120 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he intended to spray an agricultural field and was maneuvering in preparation for the first pass when the helicopter lost engine power. The pilot subsequently accomplished a forced landing to an open field. During the landing sequence, the helicopter’s main rotor blades flexed down and made contact with the tailboom, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom assembly. The pilot reported that after the landing he discovered the fuel selector valve in the off position. He reported that he had turned the fuel selector valve to the off position to drain the fuel sump during the preflight; however, he failed to re-open the valve after the preflight and prior to takeoff. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he intended to spray an agricultural field and was maneuvering in preparation for his first pass when the helicopter lost engine power. The pilot subsequently accomplished a forced landing to an open field. During the landing sequence, the helicopter’s main rotor blades flexed down and made contact with the tailboom, which resulted in substantial damage to the tailboom assembly. The pilot reported that after the landing he discovered the fuel selector valve in the off position. He reported that he had turned the fuel selector valve to the off position to drain the fuel sump during the preflight; however, failed to re-open the valve after the preflight and prior to takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: N802KA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELL 206B - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1664 - Airframe hours: 11660 - Engines: Rolls Royce C20 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Sycan Corp DBA - Registered owner: Sycan Corp DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 2012 - Departed: Shandon, CA - Destination: Shandon, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 17, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 6,600 total, 2,160 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130210002419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130210002419A), Feb 10, 2013: Bell 206B, Shandon, CA, Substantial damage. On 2/10/13 I arrived at our work site where the helicopter was already parked and ready to fly. Four days prior, on 2/7/13, I had been at the same location… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86176. 553 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.